AfterDawn: News

Global piracy outfit taken out by Nintendo

Nintendo, in conjunction with the Hong Kong High Court, have announced that they have taken out a global piracy outfit by seizing over 10,000 illegal devices that are used to violate DS and Wii copyright and trademarks.

The game coying devices and mod chips were seized during a raid of Supreme Factory Limited. The French company Divineo SARL was also named in legal action after the raid.



"Piracy affects the entire video game industry, from large companies to independent developers," commented Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America's senior director for anti-piracy.

"It can destroy years of hard work by a team of very talented software developers, who strive to create games consumers enjoy playing. Copying the developers' work and spreading the game files globally is blatant stealing."

The Court has frozen the company's assets as well as put an injunction on distribution of such products.

Source:
GI.biz

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 23 Oct 2007 13:01

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• 22 comments

• xhardc0re

  Quote:The French company Divineo SARL was also named in legal action after the raid.
  uh oh...
  and i was just about to buy a modchip + Wii or 360 to play them 'free games' on. Darn it ;)

  23.10.2007 13:10 #1

• windsong

  damn...gettin harder and harder to find a good modchip installer for the wii

  23.10.2007 14:52 #2

• vinny13

  Any of these guys make the WiiKey? That's something I'm definitely interested in. And maybe the 4GB M3 or whatever...

  23.10.2007 15:42 #3

• Pop_Smith

  Quote:The Court has frozen the company's assets as well as put an injunction on distribution of such products.A couple of things I would like to know:
  
  1. If the products are sold unflashed, as most modchips are, then why would it be illegal to sell them?
  
  2. What about all the homebrew users? I enjoyed using a couple of homebrew applications on my friend's DS so much I decided to buy my own DS, as well as a DS-X to go with it.
  
  Piracy? Rarely if ever, the only time I pirate a game is to try out the game and then I go pick it up soon after if it is something I enjoy. I would (and will) continue to buy games that come out, even if they are $30-$35 a piece.
  
  Peace

  23.10.2007 17:10 #4

• yojacks

  Quote:Quote:The Court has frozen the company's assets as well as put an injunction on distribution of such products.
  Piracy? Rarely if ever, the only time I pirate a game is to try out the game and then I go pick it up soon after if it is something I enjoy. I would (and will) continue to buy games that come out, even if they are $30-$35 a piece.
  
  Peaceyeah but that's just u most people buy and use modchips for playing games they downloaded of the net or from blockbuster or a game they borrowed from a friend.

  23.10.2007 18:46 #5

• ZippyDSM

  my god...where are the facts.....Divineo is like link sang only they sell modchips and parts and mod stuff as well they sell no games.
  
  Supreme Factory Limited makes modchips again not a automatic "piste" organization
  
  Mod-chip/Gun=legal
  Backup/Bullet=legal
  Console/Person=legal
  
  Now dose this mean a person with a loaded gun is automatically a criminal? you do the math…..
  
  -------------------
  heres the GP article
  http://gamepolitics.com/2007/10/23/ninte...p-in-hong-kong/

  23.10.2007 21:05 #6

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Quote:The Court has frozen the company's assets as well as put an injunction on distribution of such products.A couple of things I would like to know:
  
  1. If the products are sold unflashed, as most modchips are, then why would it be illegal to sell them?
  
  2. What about all the homebrew users? I enjoyed using a couple of homebrew applications on my friend's DS so much I decided to buy my own DS, as well as a DS-X to go with it.
  
  Piracy? Rarely if ever, the only time I pirate a game is to try out the game and then I go pick it up soon after if it is something I enjoy. I would (and will) continue to buy games that come out, even if they are $30-$35 a piece.
  
  Peacemore like 40-60 a pop if you are in the states, I have had it with the corpate horde I buy used and the more they ratchet up anti consumer BS the less I buy used.

  23.10.2007 21:12 #7

• fuxorated

  It's China people. I imagine they have some pretty stringent anti-piracy laws. Most likely some clause that says these items were products contributing to the piracy of copyrighted products.

  23.10.2007 21:40 #8

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by fuxorated: It's China people. I imagine they have some pretty stringent anti-piracy laws. Most likely some clause that says these items were products contributing to the piracy of copyrighted products.The US via ICE raided mod chip sellers and buyers in the US, this is merely part of the corporate world wide march on merchandise thats not paying its cut to the media mafia.

  23.10.2007 21:56 #9

• Pop_Smith

  Originally posted by yojacks: yeah but that's just u most people buy and use modchips for playing games they downloaded of the net or from blockbuster or a game they borrowed from a friend.Some people do this yes, some people also do something similar and copy movies from Blockbuster etc. that they do not own.
  
  Backups are legal if you read the fine print on most games (although Nintendo doesn't seem to like it) it says you can have one copy for archival purposes.
  
  However, the ability to play games obtained illegally (From the Internet, Blockbuster etc.) is the nature of the beast.
  
  That and the fact that its implanted in everyone's, especially the head honchos of the big corporations, heads that if you own a modchip that automatically makes you a pirate.
  
  Again if you take a look around this site you can see hundreds (literally) of members who legally backup there DVDs and games for reasons of protecting the originals.
  
  The real bad guys, who copy and sell games and movies using the same tools we use for legal reasons, are the very reason why raids like this happen.
  
  But, once again (and finally) thats what happens when tools like this are out there. Its just like ZippyDSM mentioned, just because you own a gun and bullets does not make you a criminal. Neither does owning a Modchip and legal backups.
  
  Peace

  23.10.2007 21:56 #10

• DXR88

  Quote:Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America's senior director for anti-piracy. Why is it america is so fixated on global domination on every front.
  
  This is the first ever Nintendo crackdown ever period. in the past when nintendo wanted something taking off they contacted the web master and asked for the removal of the rom dumps. they never threatend you either heck i got one of there leters telling me to stop distrobuting the mario series of games the zelda series as well.
  
  This is insane, why are the rich greedy americans so stupid..
  
  im middle class wich is one step up from being homeless. i go to work get my pay and im happy.. then one day i go to work for a meeting and they wanna cut are dental insurence. its like they dont know who made them rich in the first place..
  
  same with games expeacaly when it geared torwared younger people..
  
  if this is what the developer's want then so be it, but its not. they did not make anything.. they sat on there leather excutive chairs and did nothing. this quote is kinda hipocriticle dont you think
  Quote:It can destroy years of hard work by a team of very talented software developers, who strive to create games consumers enjoy playingwhat would you know the only numaric that run threw you head are $400,000,000.oo.

  23.10.2007 22:21 #11

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Quote:Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America's senior director for anti-piracy. Why is it america is so fixated on global domination on every front.
  
  This is the first ever Nintendo crackdown ever period. in the past when nintendo wanted something taking off they contacted the web master and asked for the removal of the rom dumps. they never threatend you either heck i got one of there leters telling me to stop distrobuting the mario series of games the zelda series as well.
  
  This is insane, why are the rich greedy americans so stupid..
  
  im middle class wich is one step up from being homeless. i go to work get my pay and im happy.. then one day i go to work for a meeting and they wanna cut are dental insurence. its like they dont know who made them rich in the first place..
  
  same with games expeacaly when it geared torwared younger people..
  
  if this is what the developer's want then so be it, but its not. they did not make anything.. they sat on there leather excutive chairs and did nothing. this quote is kinda hipocriticle dont you think
  Quote:It can destroy years of hard work by a team of very talented software developers, who strive to create games consumers enjoy playingwhat would you know the only numaric that run threw you head are $400,000,000.oo.having been in between homes and living in run down house, middle class is being near poor the way you are drained of money but living a half decent life, being poor is not nesserly being homeless it just means you have no moeny.

  23.10.2007 22:32 #12

• shummyr

  Personal Opinion is that there in control and they know it.
  They Control the industry and if there not happy no one is.
  THEY THINK THERE GOD SCREW THAT THERE NOT.
  
  peace out
  ( i'm not screaming )

  23.10.2007 23:48 #13

• dragnandy

  it would be cool if a company made a system console that might be like really expensive, but free games. like online connection to legally download games, but you'd have to pay a lot of a console. then, there would be no point of illegal mod chips

  24.10.2007 00:36 #14

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by dragnandy: it would be cool if a company made a system console that might be like really expensive, but free games. like online connection to legally download games, but you'd have to pay a lot of a console. then, there would be no point of illegal mod chipsI dont think no one would buy a 1200-2200$ system,frankly I would rather pay 10-20 a month to be able to play backups of any kind freely.

  24.10.2007 00:40 #15

• chankya

  I do think that the company take the right step against the companies that vreate the pirated games. They not only destroy the companies reputation but also cheat the user who buy the product. They must have to do something against the sites that provide the free downloads of the games. Only the sites like PSP blender that have the rights of the distribution of the games should be allowed on the internet.

  24.10.2007 03:00 #16

• SProdigy

  Quote:I dont think no one would buy a 1200-2200$ system,frankly I would rather pay 10-20 a month to be able to play backups of any kind freely.It's called GameFly... or one of those passes from Blockbuster or Hollywood...

  24.10.2007 12:11 #17

• Z3120

  Quote:Piracy? Rarely if ever, the only time I pirate a game is to try out the game and then I go pick it up soon after if it is something I enjoy. I would (and will) continue to buy games that come out, even if they are $30-$35 a piece.Yes, but unfortunately, many of those who choose to buy a mod-chip, don't bother buying the game because, as long as it's free, why-pay-for-it mentality? Quite frankly, you can see an overwhelming number of people unwilling to even buy games anymore, no matter how amazing and worthwhile the game is, since they can get it at a much cheaper alternative - free. I mean, yeah, I can see if people wanted to test out a game like I do sometimes too, but when you have people becoming ignorant of why companies such as Nintendo look down on piracy and mod-chips in the first place, blame those who don't support.
  
  Like for example, Tetris on the NDS is really fun, isn't it? Yet I don't see what's the point of pirating it and not bothering to buy it if you're having so much fun with playing against your friends and stuff. Why not obtain a hard copy? Oh, I don't know.
  
  Quote:Mod-chip/Gun=legal
  Backup/Bullet=legal
  Console/Person=legal
  
  Now dose this mean a person with a loaded gun is automatically a criminal? you do the math….. I'm speechless since you put it that way...

  24.10.2007 14:12 #18

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Quote:Piracy? Rarely if ever, the only time I pirate a game is to try out the game and then I go pick it up soon after if it is something I enjoy. I would (and will) continue to buy games that come out, even if they are $30-$35 a piece.Yes, but unfortunately, many of those who choose to buy a mod-chip, don't bother buying the game because, as long as it's free, why-pay-for-it mentality? Quite frankly, you can see an overwhelming number of people unwilling to even buy games anymore, no matter how amazing and worthwhile the game is, since they can get it at a much cheaper alternative - free. I mean, yeah, I can see if people wanted to test out a game like I do sometimes too, but when you have people becoming ignorant of why companies such as Nintendo look down on piracy and mod-chips in the first place, blame those who don't support.
  
  Like for example, Tetris on the NDS is really fun, isn't it? Yet I don't see what's the point of pirating it and not bothering to buy it if you're having so much fun with playing against your friends and stuff. Why not obtain a hard copy? Oh, I don't know.
  
  Quote:Mod-chip/Gun=legal
  Backup/Bullet=legal
  Console/Person=legal
  
  Now dose this mean a person with a loaded gun is automatically a criminal? you do the math….. I'm speechless since you put it that way...All I am saying a happy gray market makes for a happy industry, look at music, they went nuts over the gray area of shearing and its gone down hill every since, they need to focus on the clear criminals the ones that sell and distribute the games, anythign else will just stifle and damage innovation and user rights.

  24.10.2007 15:39 #19

• borhan9

  I agree with this however i do feel that mod chips should be allowed if you purchase a legal copy from oversea you should be able to play it on your machine. I bought a region 1 DVD once and could not play it on my DVD player so i backed it up and the back up worked on my players hence why universal chips should be across the board in DVD players and consoles.

  24.10.2007 17:37 #20

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by borhan9: I agree with this however i do feel that mod chips should be allowed if you purchase a legal copy from oversea you should be able to play it on your machine. I bought a region 1 DVD once and could not play it on my DVD player so i backed it up and the back up worked on my players hence why universal chips should be across the board in DVD players and consoles.Or create a online pay scheme were you can run any backup you want as long as you pay for the extra service... 15 a month would not be so bad.

  24.10.2007 17:43 #21

• adambar

  I'm sorry, but I think piracy is NINTENDO'S fault and MICROSOFT'S fault and SONY'S fault. They have obviously not taken the proper measures to protect their products from piracy in the first place and thus, they are exploitable. And of course they'll take every measure to blame the consumer. Not only that, but what in god's name are they complaining about? Nintendo is at the top of the console war, stocks are through the roof, the video game industry as a whole is at its peak... and they're so worried about the 1-2% of gamers who already bought their console (which at least Nintendo made profit on) and may be stealing some games? Give me a break, get back to making games and stop trying to control the world.

  30.10.2007 16:38 #22